Review Blog

Jul 31 2014

Homeroom diaries by James Patterson and Lisa Papadmetriou

Ill. by Keino. Random House Australia, 2014. ISBN 9780099596264.
(Age: 14+) From one of the world's best-selling authors comes his
newest YA novel - an illustrated diary from a clearly unusual
character. James Patterson introduces Margaret, Maggie, more usually
self-styled as 'Cuckoo'. Amidst the hell that is high school,
Maggie's friends who are one of the unpopular 'nations' decide to
beat the Haters at their own game and call themselves The Freakshow.
Cuckoo, Brainzilla, Zitsy, Eggy, Tebow, and Flatso have been friends
a long time and amongst the warzone groups at North Plains High
School they support each other in the face of 'the Jocks, Nerds,
Twinkies, Otaku, Barbies, Goths, Eurotrash, Jailbait, Stoners,
Joiners, Glommers, Delusionals, Haters, Wankstas, Thespians,
Teachers, Terror Teachers, Zomboids, Robots, Gleeks, United Colors
of Bennetoners, Libertarians, Activists, Juvies, Baristas [and]
Blahs'. Whew! Pretty much sounds like any normal high school to me.
Maggie gives herself her nickname because she spent ten days in the
local mental hospital, after her mother took off and left her with
no money and no food - and just didn't come back. Recovering from
this sadness, Maggie now lives with her neighbour Mrs Morrison who
is just the kind of caring foster-mother Maggie needs in her life.
She also starts a diary so she can continue with her healing process
but mostly because she loves to write.
With loads of humour and some fabulous cartoon illustrations with a
Gothic manga style, this novel deals with some fairly intense
teenage problems, which are sadly far too common, with a deft hand.
Problems with teachers, problems with boys, problems with bullies,
problems with parents and problems with life in general are dealt
with in a way which lessens the trauma without desensitizing the
reader. And the satisfactory ending is not an ending but segues into
the next instalment to which I anticipate readers, including myself,
will look forward.